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SHOULD CAPITAL PUNISHMENT BE ABOLISHED?

Shortly before midnight last night, convict Troy Davis was escorted into a small room in prison in Georgia, he was strapped down on a gurney, his veins were filled with lethal poison and minutes later he was dead.

This was an act of cold-blooded savagery that is right up there with the killings in the roman forum. It killed Davis but it demeans and besmirches every person who had a hand in carrying out this crime.This vicious crime went forward despite multiple efforts to stop it. Despite the fact that people world-wide signed a petition for clemency. Despite the fact that some 300 rallies, vigils and events occurred worldwide, including in New York, Washington, Peru, Paris and Oslo amenedictonths among others. despite the fact that a list of celebrities including pope Benedict, President Carter, Archbishop Tutu and film actress Susan Sarandon asked that it be stopped.

The execution went forward despite he fact that of the nine witnesses who testified against him at his trial for murder have recanted or changed their testimony.

Is this another case of executing an innocent man?

Should capital punishment be abolished as it is in a more enilightened Canada?

The question is not the savagery of the death of the victim, Tony. That goes without saying. The question here is whether Troy is the actual perpetrator of the crime. Does the savagery of the crime require that just anybody be executed? Even if you believe in capital punishment (which I do not), surely it must be reserved for those who, beyond a reasonable doubt, perpetrated the crime.

And Neil, there are not a few in “enlightened” Canada that would love to see the reinstatement of the death penalty. Witness all the attention being paid to the impending death from cancer of Clifford Olsen.

I understand that, Neil. He is being treated as a human being, despite the terrible crimes he committed and that is to Canada’s great credit. However, there is much talk about that is flavoured with revenge and just desserts that is not much different than one hears from some people in the States. I suppose it is human nature, but I find it regrettable.

I’ve forgotten the exact wording of that old chestnut “It is better that 100 guilty men go free, than to hang one innocent man. Was it Michigan or Illinois which abolished the death penalty because university students under a university law professor investigated men on death row, only to find that facts, on 76 of them, had not been substantiated.

Am I in favour of Capital punishment? YES!
However, only in the case of “no doubt” whatsoever.
Paul Bernardo, Clifford Olson, are cases where they should have been marched to the gallows within the month of sentencing. No lengthy appeals. There are many on death row in the USA who have been there for years abusing the justice system.
The victims and the families of the aforementioned, have been handed a “life sentence”, no appeals, no parole.

I agree with Patti. The likes of Bernardo and Olson should have taken their last walk long before now. Unfortunately, society tends to hide its squeamishness behind the label of, “civilized behavior,” and pretend that prison is enough for the purposes of punishing known killers.

There was much doubt about Troy Davis’ actual guilt…the fact that several appeals were denied hearing says so. Those who had already made up their minds (and used him as a political scorecard) did not want to hear any new evidence or the recanting of old. Their own politicial futures were at stake. He was executed to save someone else’s reputation, not to satisfy any sense of justice.

But does anyone here harbor any doubts about the guilt of Bernardo or Olson?

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